The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-01-01
USEFUL INFORMATION.

From advance sheets of the American Agricul-
tuist for January, we take the following valua-
BILE items of interest to farmers and others:
Protecting Young Trees from RabJits.-Not the
least of the enemies of young orchard trees is
the rabbit, and we fear he will be such as long
our Usage Orange hedges remain. The rabbit
will not injure the trees in summer, when he has
an abundance of succulent food /; but in winter
the tender bark is to him dainty that he will
partake of if it is not made distasteful to him or
he is not frightened away. To brighten him from
the trees is not easy. We have tried effectually
the plan of tying white cloths around the tree,
and found to our sorrow that the rabbit soon
ceased to fear them. Making the snow into
solid mound about the tree will keep away mice
but not rabbits, though it is often said it would.
The rabbits will mount the mound and nibble
away. Besides we don't have snow half the time
during the winter. The best way is to make the
bark distasteful to the rabbit. He likes neither
blood nor grease, nor the odor of flesh. Hence,
when you butcher, take the waste parts of the ami
mails, and with these parts rub the trunks as far
up as the rabbits can reach The rabbits never
nibble tree SO treated, while the grease or blood
remains.
Reading for Farmers Boys.-The character of
person is developed largely by his reading, if
he reads at all. If he has an aptitude in any
special direction quite naturally his reading will
be of the kind most suited to his peculiar bent of
mind. Every parent should study the character
istics of his children, and help them to such read
ing as will most practically assist them in deve-
oping their capabilities. The farmer should put
before such of his boys as inclined to work on
the farm, good agricultural papers-not those
with theories which he knows to be impracticable,
but common sense papers which are edited from a
practical standpoint and are for practical men.
The boy who reads such paper will become in
terested in it, because it treats of the work and
the daily life going on about him-the work and
the life he knows most about. Whenever he reads
of new methods of doing things he will compare
them with the method with which he is familiar,
and the best method is the one he will follow, be
it the new or the old. The paper will sow seed
for thought in his mind, and what boy needs, is
to be set to thinking. He does not require to
have his ideas thought out for him by some one
else, if you encourage him to be his own thinker.
A good paper, which deals with the problems
most familiar to him, is the best stimulus for
thought.
Use of Plaster.-There seems to be an opinion
prevalent with many that as plaster or sulphate
of lime does not enter largely into the compost
ton of plants, it be of but little use as fer
tilizer. They do not consider that there are sub
stances which, while they do not contribute d.
rectly to the growth of plants, have chemical or
moCuduiCdl properties IudJ play q very important
part in vegetation. Plaster has both of these
properties. As disinfectant and deodorizer it is
one of the best, as well cheapest, substances at
our command. Any one who has kept stock of
any kind stabbed during the warm summer months,
knows what hard task it is to keep their apart
ments clean and odorless. Now, if they will keep
barrel of fresh ground plaster in convenient
corner, and every day, on sweeping the floor
clean, sprinkle it freely with the plaster, it will
absorb all disagreeable, noxious odors, rendering
the air sweet and pure, while the value of the
manure will be greatly enhanced by the retention
of the ammonia. Poultry houses should also be
swept clean at least twice a week in summer, and
once week in winter, and the floors sprinkled
with plaster; it will add greatly to the value of
the manure, and the satisfaction of having clean,
sweet, odorless coops and healthy focks, will
abundantly pay expenses. Try it and be con-
WINGED.
The Eye Indicative of Characteristic eye in
farm animals, as we'll as in the human being, in
dicates character. The placid eye of the Jersey
COW shows that she has kind disposition the
subdued fire or flash of the eye of the trotter ndi-
Gates its spirit. A large prominent eye denotes
intelligence, and usually courage. The horse
with such an eye will be an agreeable driver, and
is rarely shyer or runaway. In cattle we de-
sire quiet docile disposition, that the beef ami
NAL may not lose flesh by violent exertion, that
the bull may not be dangerous, and that the cow
may be tractable. Hence, in selecting cattle for
any purpose, we should look for an eye with q
calm, placid, deep expression. The COW that will
nose you when you are milking her has such an
eye so has the steer that will follow gently after
you when you have the feed basket on your arm.
This is not to be COMPOUNDED with the dull, life
less eye, which indicates stupidity and slowness,
Objectionable in all animals, especially in horses
and work CATTLE The desirable eye is always
bright and full, and full of expression. A small
eye usually indicates stubbornness. The eye of
the hog shows its peculiar disposition. But the
eye may be too lively. A restless eye is evidence
of highly organized, nervous temperament, and
fire in it often shows a vicious disposition. Hence
it is to be avoided in cattle and farm horses.